In HIV, Arrhythmias Affect Mortality Rates

Arrhythmias are significantly associated with morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with HIV, according to the results of a recent study.

“The improved life expectancy observed in patients living with HIV infection has made age-related cardiovascular complications, including arrhythmias, a growing health concern” the researchers wrote.

In order to explore the relationship between arrhythmias and outcomes among this population, the researchers conducted a study using data from the NIS database on 2005-2014 HIV hospitalizations.

Overall, arrhythmias occurred in 3.01% of the 2,370,751 hospitalized patients. Of these, atrial fibrillation was the most frequent (2110 per 100,000). Arrhythmias were shown to be more common among older male patients, those with the lowest income, and those with nonelective admissions. Hospital mortality was also higher among those with arrhythmias.

“Arrhythmias are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized HIV patients. AF is the most frequent arrhythmia in hospitalized HIV patients,” the ressearchers concluded.

—Michael Potts

 Reference:

Abudan AA, Vaidya VR, Tripathi B, et al. Burden of arrhythmia in hospitalized HIV patients. Clin Cardiol. 2021 Jan;44(1):66-77. doi: 10.1002/clc.23506.